Just an update. I have been monitoring the utilization on my GPUs and CPUs and as previously discussed , it seems to be the CPU that is the bottle neck in my system. I have recently posted that setting the priority for Aceshigh in the task manager to "high" helped quite a bit, but the results were inconsistant. Some days it was till slow. Recently I did some experiments with setting the "affinity". Now these results are for a Quad core Duo. When I run the game in default mode it seems to try to run everything on Core 0, which is typically 100% with spill over on teh other cores of 10-20%. Frame rates are limitted with relfections and self shadows on. But I have found the the optimum settings for me was to set the "affinity" for Aceshigh to cores 1,2,3 (just deactivate 0), and set TrackIr to core 1). When I do that core 1 runs at 85% and Cores 2 and three run 20-30%.. The game runs beautifully and conststanly between 55-60 FPS. It does take longer to Cache. When I take off after each sortie, the game runs at 20 FPS for about the time it takes to roll down the runway and lift off, but then it pegs at 55-60 and stays there, even in heavy action.
I run Window7 64 bit, on a 2.66MHz Quad core Duo, with 8 Gig of Ram and Radeon 5970. The Graphics card is running 30% and 30% utilization on the GPUs. That would suggest that the game is more CPU bottlenecked on most rigs, compared to GPU. For some reason Window7 didin't schedule the game across the CPUs efficiently, but setting AH to the back three processors did the trick.
Note: I tried to use the back two processors (3,4) and the graphics looked great but the sounds wouldn't run smooth. (they kept pausing, like they were disrupted)
Also starting the Task manager after AH is running will crash it. So you need to do it in this order...
Sequence:
Turn off real time Scanning in your Virus software (if applicable)
Start CH control manager
Start TrackIR 5.0
Start the Task Manager
Start AH and leave it at the first screen.
Go back to the Task manager screen....
-Under processes tab
- Right click on AH and left click on "affinity..."
- you'll see 5 check boxes
Select all
CPU 0 (de-select this one)
CPU 1 {
CPU 2 {Leave these checked
CPU 3 {
- Click OK
- Right click on AH and left click on "Priority"
- left click on "High" (box will come up warning that changing priority can affect performance. select "Change priority")
- Right click on TrackIR 5.0 and left click on "Priority"
- left click on "High" (box will come up warning that changing priority can affect performance. select "Change priority")
Close the task manager.
selct on-line arenas or other menue choice from AH and proceed as usual.
Make a 20-25 FPS difference on my machine. I've had this hardware for over a year and could never run 8192 Self shadows, let a lone with the Environment map at one notch. I am running 2048 graphics resolution, Bump map terrain, Realistic Water, with local water reflections on.
It's a joy to see the game in it's full glory. I pass this info on in the hopes that more will be able to enjoy it. Results may vary, but I think windows7 may not be scheduling optimumly without a little help. forcing the game onto certain cores may help your rig as well. Good luck and Please poet results if it works, or hurts your set up. I will make screen dumps and post tonight when I get home.
thanks,
vinkman
